For those of you who are not familiar with square waves or who have never seen such waves before, this is your perfect opportunity to learn more. A square wave is a unique, rare, and beautiful natural phenomenon, but also incredibly dangerous. These particular waves form in full force in the famous tourist destination of the Isle of Rhe in France.
Unlike normal waves with regular wave patterns, these waves form strange patterns because of their movement. They appear grid-like and square, making the surface of the ocean look like a chessboard around the small strip of land. The pattern is so mesmerizing that tourists travel from around the world to the lighthouse in order to catch sight of the waves at the highest elevation.
There’s a specific and scientific reason as to why this occurs, and specifically, why it occurs in this part of the ocean. That’s because the two seas meet in the area where the strange wave pattern occurs. The merging of these waters creates what is called a cross sea.
As these two seas intersect and collide, they create different weather patterns. This weather pattern, in turn, creates different wave patterns. Over time, the collision of the waves causes squares to form in the water making a sight-seeing delight for those who have never seen square waves.
Though they are beautiful to behold, the cross is an incredibly dangerous section of the ocean, given that the riptide is stronger than the average person has come across. If you find yourself within the cross sea, it could be catastrophic. Like this person pictured in the image below.
However, the weather doesn’t always affect the ocean in this manner, so the cross-sea isn’t always present. In fact, the waters of the Isle are normally deemed safe for the tourists visiting the resort town.
It is a great reminder, however, of the beauty and sheer power of nature. Though we hope you never find yourself in the midst of a cross-sea, it’s definitely a bucket list must-see attraction.
